oil pulling

Oil pulling is one of the weirdest (yet most fascinating) of the detox practices. But I have to admit, it is one of my favourites. Here’s why!

Health benefits of oil pulling:

brighter, whiter teeth

healthier gums

no more bad breath (a bonus if you are actually trying to pull!)

improved sleep

increased energy

clearer sinuses

clearer skin

improved lymph system

reduced PMS symptoms (I used to have awful cramps – however, since oil pulling and cleaning up my diet, my symptoms are greatly reduced!)

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic ritual and is simple, yet effective.

Here’s how to ‘pull like a pro!’

Upon waking, on an empty stomach and before brushing your teeth:

Put 1 tbsp of oil in your mouth. (I use organic coconut oil because it tastes delicious and is a super beneficial oil in general!) But traditionally, sesame seed oil or sunflower oils are used.

Swish it around your gob for 15-20mins!

Spit it into the bin. (Nice!) I recommend disposing of the oil in the bin to avoid clogging your drains!

Sounds a bit yuck right? But believe me, the health benefits of oil pulling are far too good to pass up on this wonderfully wacky morning ritual.

Bonus pro tips for pulling:

Whoa! Slow down. There really is no need to gargle orswish the oil so fast that your jaw begins to ache. A slow, simple sucking between the teeth and around the mouth will suffice, and if you’re pushed for time, this can be done as you take a shower or get dressed.

If Kate Winslet can spit like a man – so can you!

Find your (inner) bloke… Oil pulling does draw out some nasties and toxins, so be prepared to gag a little in the beginning. But stick with it and you’ll soon be hoiking up like Kate Winslett in Titanic. Yes – ladies can spit too! Which brings me to the next point…

Spit – don’t swallow!!! Whatever your pulling preferences, in this instance – make sure you spit and not swallow! The swishing of the oil draws out a host of bacteria, debris and toxins from your body through the mouth membrane and this is definitely NOT something you want to digest! I also suggest rinsing your mouth thoroughly afterwards and then brushing. You might even want to keep a separate toothbrush for the purpose of post-pulling.

Spice things up! Why not add a drop of oregano essential oil to the mix to further enhance the antibacterial, anti fungal and antiviral effect?